Frame structure for use with patient support

Abstract

A frame structure is configured for use with a patient support to support equipment and accessories above a patient on the patient support. The frame structure comprises a head end frame portion and a side frame portion to extend upwardly from the patient support. A coupler is configured to be attached to the frame structure.

1 . A frame structure for supporting equipment and accessories above a patient on a patient support comprising a head end, a foot end, longitudinally extending sides, head end corner portions, and foot end corner portions, the frame structure comprising: 
 a head end frame portion to extend upwardly from the head end over the patient and toward the foot end to terminate with a distal portion, and    a side frame portion to extend upwardly selectively from either of the longitudinally extending sides to couple to the distal portion of the head end frame portion.    
     
     
         2 . The frame structure of  claim 1 , wherein the head end frame portion comprises an upright portion to extend upwardly from each head end corner portion to an upper end portion, an intermediate portion extending from each upper end portion of each upright portion toward the foot end, and a transverse portion extending between upper end portions of the intermediate portions.  
     
     
         3 . The frame structure of  claim 2 , wherein the side frame portion is connected to the transverse portion adjacent to the upper end portion of either of the intermediate portions.  
     
     
         4 . The frame structure of  claim 2 , wherein the head end frame portion comprises a tank mount extending between the upright portions to support a tank.  
     
     
         5 . The frame structure of  claim 1 , wherein the side frame portion comprises a vertical portion to extend upwardly selectively from either of the longitudinally extending sides and a horizontal portion extending from an upper end portion of the vertical portion to the distal portion of the head end frame portion.  
     
     
         6 . The frame structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fame structure is configured to be spaced apart from a first of the longitudinally extending sides when the side frame portion extends upwardly from a second of the longitudinally extending sides.  
     
     
         7 . A frame structure for supporting equipment and accessories above a patient on a patient support comprising a head end, a foot end, longitudinally extending sides, head end corner portions, and foot end corner portions, the frame structure comprising: 
 a head end frame portion comprising an upright portion to extend upwardly from each head end corner portion to an upper end portion, an intermediate portion extending from each upper end portion of each upright portion toward the foot end, and a transverse portion extending between upper end portions of the intermediate portions, and    a side frame portion to be selectively connected to either of the longitudinally extending sides and the transverse portion adjacent to the upper end portion of either of the intermediate portions.    
     
     
         8 . The frame structure of  claim 7 , wherein each upright portion comprises an attachment portion to attach to one of the head end corner portions and a transition portion extending transversely inwardly from the attachment portion and the intermediate portion of the upright portion.  
     
     
         9 . The frame structure of  claim 8 , wherein each transition portion of each upright portion comprises a lower inclined portion extending transversely inwardly from the attachment portion of the associated upright portion, an upper inclined portion extending transversely inwardly from the intermediate portion of the associated upright portion, and a vertical portion extending between the lower inclined portion and the upper inclined portion.  
     
     
         10 . The frame structure of  claim 9 , wherein the head end frame portion comprises a tank mount extending between the vertical portions to support a tank.  
     
     
         11 . The frame structure of  claim 7 , wherein the side frame portion comprises a vertical portion to extend upwardly selectively from either of the longitudinally extending sides and a horizontal portion extending from an upper end portion of the vertical portion to the transverse portion.  
     
     
         12 . The frame structure of  claim 7 , wherein the frame structure is configured to be spaced apart from a first of the longitudinally extending sides when the side frame portion extends upwardly from a second of the longitudinally extending sides.  
     
     
         13 . The frame structure of  claim 7 , wherein the side frame portion is L-shaped.  
     
     
         14 . A patient care apparatus comprising: 
 a patient support comprising a head end, a foot end, longitudinally extending sides, head end corner portions, and foot end corner portions, and    a frame structure to support equipment and accessories above a patient on the patient support, the frame structure comprising a head end frame portion extending upwardly from the head end over the patient and toward the foot end to terminate with a distal portion and a side frame portion extending upwardly selectively from either of the longitudinally extending sides to couple to the distal portion of the head end frame portion.    
     
     
         15 . The patient care apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the frame structure is spaced apart from one of the longitudinally extending sides.  
     
     
         16 . The frame structure of  claim 14 , wherein the head end frame portion comprises an upright portion extending upwardly from each head end corner portion to an upper end portion of the upright portion, an intermediate portion extending from each upper end portion of each upright portion toward the foot end, and a transverse portion extending between upper end portions of the intermediate portions.  
     
     
         17 . The frame structure of  claim 16 , wherein the head end frame portion comprises a tank mount extending between the upright portions to support a tank.  
     
     
         18 . The frame structure of  claim 14 , wherein the side frame portion comprises a vertical portion extending upwardly selectively from either of the longitudinally extending sides and a horizontal portion extending from an upper end portion of the vertical portion to the distal portion of the head end frame portion.  
     
     
         19 . A coupler for attachment to a cylindrical member having an axis and a cylindrical outer surface formed about the axis to have a first diameter, the coupler comprising: 
 a support member comprising axially spaced apart first and second resilient clamps to fit over the outer surface, the first and second clamps opening in opposite directions to receive and extend about axially spaced apart opposite portions of the cylindrical member, the clamps providing a channel with a common central axis which will generally coincide with the axis of the cylindrical member when the clamps receive the cylindrical member.    
     
     
         20 . The coupler of  claim 19 , wherein each clamp includes a proximal end portion attached to the support member and a distal end portion spaced apart from the proximal end portion to provide an opening to receive the cylindrical member upon relative movement of the coupler and the cylindrical member about an axis of rotation transverse to the common central axis.  
     
     
         21 . The coupler of  claim 19 , wherein each clamp includes a proximal end portion attached to the support member and a distal end portion, the first clamp extends from its proximal end portion about the common central axis to its distal end portion in a first direction, and the second clamp extends from its proximal end portion about the common central axis to its distal end portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.  
     
     
         22 . The coupler of  claim 19 , wherein each clamp extends more than 180° and less than 360° about the common central axis.  
     
     
         23 . The coupler of  claim 19 , wherein the first clamp has a C-shaped cross-section transverse to the common central axis, and the second clamp has a backward C-shaped cross-section transverse to the common central axis.  
     
     
         24 . A coupler comprising: 
 first and second resilient clamps facing in opposite directions and providing a channel having a channel axis, the clamps being axially spaced relative to the channel axis, the clamps being configured to receive an object in the channel to clamp the object therein upon relative movement between the coupler and the object about an axis of rotation transverse to the channel axis.    
     
     
         25 . The coupler of  claim 24 , comprising a support member comprising the first and second clamps, wherein each clamp includes a proximal end portion attached to the support member and a distal end portion spaced apart from the proximal end portion to provide an opening to receive the object upon relative movement of the coupler and the object about an axis of rotation transverse to the channel axis.  
     
     
         26 . The coupler of  claim 24 , comprising a support member comprising the first and second clamps, wherein each clamp includes a proximal end portion attached to the support member and a distal end portion, the first clamp extends from its proximal end portion about the channel axis to its distal end portion in a first direction, and the second clamp extends from its proximal end portion about the channel axis to its distal end portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.  
     
     
         27 . The coupler of  claim 24 , wherein each clamp extends more than 180° and less than 360° about the channel axis.  
     
     
         28 . The coupler of  claim 24 , wherein the first clamp has a C-shaped cross-section transverse to the channel axis, and the second clamp has a backward C-shaped cross-section transverse to the channel axis.